Functional low-profile dynamic extension splint and methods for its use and manufacture

Abstract

The present invention relates to medical devices and methods useful for improving a person's ability to grasp and release an object, and more specifically, the present invention relates to a splint for causing dynamic extension of a finger and/or thumb.

1. A dynamic extension splint for biasing a person's fingers in an open position and having a low-profile configuration, comprising:
 a) a glove designed to wrap around and cover at least a portion of the person's hand including;
 i) a thumb jacket for positioning the person's thumb by covering and securing a portion of the thumb, and 
 ii) a handwrap for securing the glove to the person's hand; 
 
 b) a platform for attachment to the glove and configured to rest on the dorsum of the hand, the platform having an outrigger mount portion; 
 c) a flexible outrigger for biasing at least two adjacent fingers in an extended open position and attached at a proximal end to the outrigger mount portion of the platform at a location so that the outrigger is positioned between the two adjacent fingers when the splint is being worn, the outrigger including a rod extending away from the outrigger mount portion parallel and proximate to the plane of the outrigger mount portion to provide the low-profile configuration of the dynamic extension splint; 
 d) a first finger extender contoured to surround the person's finger including:
 i) a warped circular saddle for supporting the palmar side of the finger, and 
 ii) a half ring bridge for supporting the dorsal side of the finger; and 
 
 e) a second finger extender contoured to surround the person's finger including:
 i) a warped circular saddle for supporting the palmar side of the finger, and 
 ii) a half ring bridge for supporting the dorsal side of the finger. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic extension splint comprises a total height profile thickness of less than one inch. 
     
     
       3. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 1 , comprising a finger extender bridge attached to the first and second finger extenders, the finger extender bridge slidably attached to the flexible outrigger. 
     
     
       4. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 1 , wherein the platform includes a thumb extension portion disposed within the thumb jacket, the thumb extension portion cooperating with the thumb jacket to extend the person's thumb. 
     
     
       5. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 1 , comprising an outrigger cushion pad attached to the outrigger at a location that prevents the outrigger from directly pressing against the dorsum of the hand. 
     
     
       6. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 1 , wherein the finger extender is capable of keeping both the DIP and PIP joints in an open extended position. 
     
     
       7. A dynamic extension splint for biasing a person's fingers in an open position and having a low-profile configuration, comprising:
 a) a glove including a thumb jacket for positioning the person's thumb by covering and securing a portion of the thumb; 
 b) a platform including an outrigger mount portion for attachment to the glove and configured to rest on the dorsum of the hand; 
 c) a flexible outrigger for biasing at least one finger in an open position, the flexible outrigger mounted to the outrigger mount portion so that the outrigger extends between two adjacent fingers when the dynamic extension splint is being worn by the person, and the outrigger including a rod extending away from the outrigger mount portion parallel and proximate to the plane of the outrigger mount portion to provide the low-profile configuration of the dynamic extension splint; and 
 d) at least one finger extender configured to surround a person's finger, the finger extender biasing the finger into an extended position and comprising an arcuate shape designed to fit snuggly around the person's finger. 
 
     
     
       8. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 7 , comprising a finger extender bridge attached to a first and a second of the at least one finger extender, the finger extender bridge slidably attached to the flexible outrigger. 
     
     
       9. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 7 , comprising an outrigger cushion pad attached to the outrigger at a location that prevents the outrigger from directly pressing against the dorsum of the hand. 
     
     
       10. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 7 , wherein the platform includes a thumb extension portion for positioning within the thumb jacket and for cooperating with the thumb jacket to extend the person's thumb. 
     
     
       11. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 7 , wherein the finger extender is sufficiently rigid to prevent an individual from curling his or her finger. 
     
     
       12. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 7 , wherein the glove comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
       13. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 7 , wherein the finger extender is an Oval-8 splint. 
     
     
       14. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 7 , wherein the finger extender is capable of keeping both the DIP and PIP joints in an open extended position. 
     
     
       15. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 7 , wherein the finger extender comprises:
 a) a warped circular saddle for supporting the palmar side of the finger, and 
 b) a half ring bridge for supporting the dorsal side of the finger. 
 
     
     
       16. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 7 , wherein the finger extender comprises:
 a) a cradle for supporting the palmar side of the finger, and 
 b) a cradle connector for supporting the dorsal side of the finger. 
 
     
     
       17. A dynamic extension splint for biasing a person's fingers in an open position and having a low-profile configuration, comprising:
 a) a glove including a thumb jacket for positioning the person's thumb by covering and securing a portion of the thumb and including an outrigger mount portion for attachment to the glove; 
 b) a flexible outrigger for biasing at least two of a person's fingers in an open position, the flexible outrigger mounted to the outrigger mount portion and extending away from the outrigger mount portion parallel and proximate to the plane of the outrigger mount portion to provide the low-profile configuration of the dynamic extension splint; and 
 c) two finger extenders each configured to surround a respective one of the person's index finger and long finger and biasing the fingers into an extended position, the finger extenders comprising an arcuate shape designed to fit snuggly around the person's fingers, wherein the finger extenders are sufficiently rigid to prevent a person from curling his index and long fingers while the person is wearing the dynamic extension splint. 
 
     
     
       18. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 17 , comprising an outrigger cushion pad attached to the outrigger at a location that prevents the outrigger from directly pressing against the dorsum of the hand. 
     
     
       19. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 17 , comprising a finger extender bridge attached to the first and second finger extenders, the finger extender bridge slidably attached to the flexible outrigger. 
     
     
       20. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 17 , comprising a platform for attachment to the glove and configured to rest on the dorsum of the hand, the platform including a thumb extension portion for positioning within the thumb jacket and for cooperating with the thumb jacket to extend the person's thumb. 
     
     
       21. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 17 , wherein the finger extenders are oval-8 splints. 
     
     
       22. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 17 , wherein the finger extenders are capable of keeping both the DIP and PIP joints in an open extended position. 
     
     
       23. The dynamic extension splint according to  claim 17 , wherein the glove comprises a resilient material. 
     
     
       24. A dynamic extension splint for biasing a person's fingers in an open position and having a low-profile configuration, comprising:
 a) a means for covering and supporting a person's hand including a thumb jacket for positioning the person's thumb by covering and securing a portion of the thumb; 
 b) an outrigger support means including an outrigger mount portion for attachment to the hand covering means and configured to rest on the dorsum of the hand; 
 c) an extension means for biasing at least two of the person's fingers in an extended open position and attached at a proximal end to the outrigger mount portion so that the outrigger is positioned between two adjacent fingers when the splint is being worn, the outrigger including:
 i) a stop at the distal end of the outrigger; and 
 ii) a rod extending away from the outrigger mount portion parallel and proximate to the plane of the outrigger mount portion to provide the low-profile configuration of the dynamic extension splint; 
 
 d) a first device for extending a finger including:
 i) a warped circular saddle for supporting the palmar side of the finger, and 
 ii) a half ring bridge for supporting the dorsal side of the finger; and 
 
 e) a second device for extending a finger including:
 i) a warped circular saddle for supporting the palmar side of the finger, and 
 ii) a half ring bridge for supporting the dorsal side of the finger.